Goodwill message from the Presiding Officer to
the National Council of the Slovak Republic
On
behalf of the Scottish Parliament I wish to extend my congratulations to the
National Council of the Slovak Republic on the occasion of the launch of the
Slovak Partner Library scheme.
Slovakia
and Scotland have much in common: similarities in geography and size of
population, for instance, are obvious examples. In addition, and as today demonstrates,
the governing institutions of both our countries also share a common goal of
being truly open and accountable to our citizens.
Earlier
this year staff from the Scottish Parliament’s Research and Information Group
visited Slovakia to demonstrate the ways in which the Scottish Parliament puts
into practice our commitment to be open and transparent to the people of
Scotland. These contacts were
facilitated under the auspices of the 'Strengthening Parliamentary Processes in
Slovakia’ Project, funded by the UK Department for International
Development. This was followed in May
by a visit to Scotland of a delegation of Slovak Members of Parliament and
parliamentary officials. During their
visit our Slovak friends found much of interest and, in particular, were
impressed by our Partner Library Network.
The
Partner Library Network is an initiative of which I am most proud. There are
eighty Partner Libraries in Scotland – equivalent to one public library in
nine. Since the Scottish Parliament's establishment in 1999, the Partner
Library Network has been one of the most high-profile and successful ways in
which the Parliament has engaged with Scotland’s citizens at a local level in
their own communities.
By
enthusiastically supporting the work of the Parliament’s own information
professionals, Partner Library staff recognise the crucial role they play in
ensuring that the Scottish Parliament is accountable to the people of
Scotland. Because public libraries are
based at the heart of local communities, the Partner Library Network reminds us
that everything we do should be driven by, and for, the citizens we represent.
I
am delighted to learn that the National Council of the Slovak Republic is
implementing a similar programme. The
launch today of the Slovak Partner Library Network is a tangible demonstration
of the commitment of the National Council of the Slovak Republic to engage with
its citizens.
I
heartily congratulate the National Council of the Slovak Republic on this
initiative and wish it every success.
Presiding Officer
Scottish Parliament